Browser ballot screen isn't just for Windows 7

Mary Jo Foley reports on an interesting tidbit I missed while traipsing around The Netherlands this week: Microsoft's proposal to let EU users choose from competing web browsers isn't relegated to Windows 7. They'll offer this capability on Windows XP and Windows Vista as well.

The “ballot screen” isn’t for Windows 7 users only. Microsoft is proposing that it be allowed to provide the ballot screen to European users running Windows XP, Vista and/or Windows 7.

The ballot screen — which will include a list of browsers including IE, plus a number of choices from competing vendors — will be delivered to current and future XP and Vista users over Windows Update, according to Microsoft’s proposal.

Microsoft is advocating that the ballot screen include 10 or fewer of “the most widely-used web browsers that run on Windows with a usage share of equal to or more than 0.5% in the EEA (European Economic Area).” The choice of browsers should be presented “in a horizontal line and in an unbiased way” a display of icons and “basic identifying information” on the Web browsers. The top five of the browsers listed (by market share) will get additional “prominent display,” Microsoft is advocating.

XP and Vista users will get the ballot screen three to six months after the European Commission’s final ruling in the Opera antitrust case. For XP users, Microsoft plans to designate the ballot screen a “high priority” update when it pushes it out over Windows Update; for Vista and Windows 7 users, the ballot screen will be designated “important,” the proposal says.

Here's to hoping that this condition leaves Opera off the list. I'm not sure if I mentioned this here in the blog yet, but I'd advocate a boycott of Opera if I thought anyone was actually using the damn thing. I'm so tired of these complainers. Here's a new example why. The people have spoken, Opera. Please go away.

Discuss this Article 59

@Weathorn: "I'm sure the EU would say that Microsoft would be morally (and possibly legally) obligated to sell within their market, and that they have no choice."
Really, what is morally wrong with Microsoft not selling it's product in the EU.
Also, how can they legally force MS to sell Windows in the EU? Can they force you to sell your OEM computers to customers over in Europe? If not, how are you different then Microsoft? Who would the EU go to enforce a ruling that MS has to sell Windows in Europe, the UN?

Say what you will, but you know it to be true that Paul would be all over a bad set of financial result figures from Apple or Google. It shows hypocrisy. Or at least shows that Microsoft pulls this blog's strings. I'm sure Paul's concerned about a memo coming from the Borg regarding his negative reporting of Microsoft, and to remember his pledge to kick Apple and Google at any chance possible.

@chuck84: "The suggestion that Microsoft just not sell its products in the EU is a great idea!"
Thanks for the sarcasm.
Of course Microsoft would not pull out of the EU market. I was merely questioning whether or not it would be wrong for them to do so. However, if MS did threaten to not sell Windows in the EU, I bet the EC would back off and let Microsoft do whatever they please (within reason, that is).

"However, if MS did threaten to not sell Windows in the EU, I bet the EC would back off and let Microsoft do whatever they please (within reason, that is)."
Very doubtful, because with plummeting sales, Microsoft is in no position to even make the threat, let alone do it. That's a good thing, even if the EU is overreacting, because it means that Microsoft is now unable to dictate terms the way it used to. You'll get better products from a less arrogant company.
The surprise is that billions of euros in fines didn't really seem to make much impression on Microsoft. It apparently took the recent sales decline to cultivate a more reasonable attitude.

Three thoughts from the peanut gallery (although typed on IE8 on Win7 RC).
1. " All this fuss because of Opera." All this fuss about the ability to give away a program. I haven't used Opera for a decade or so--does Opera make a ton of Kroner on ads? Or think they might if only they had a suitable (in their eyes) market share.
2. Opera has had plenty of time to establish themselves. They preceded Internet Explorer and Netscape. Why didn't they win? They came after NCSA Mosaic and Lynx. But NCSA pulled the plug, and Lynx, while still useful to see proper (text) web pages is not exactly main stream.
3. Too much fuss about a down quarter at Microsoft. One quarter means nothing--a dozen or so do. Unlike the "long term is a week" market people today, I'm old enough to thing of 5 years as short term; 20 as medium or long term. (And 5 million shares on the NYSE as a huge day.)

"robertsjoe said:
Say what you will, but you know it to be true that Paul would be all over a bad set of financial result figures from Apple or Google. It shows hypocrisy. Or at least shows that Microsoft pulls this blog's strings. I'm sure Paul's concerned about a memo coming from the Borg regarding his negative reporting of Microsoft, and to remember his pledge to kick Apple and Google at any chance possible."
This is the "WINDOWS Supersite you moron... Of course Paul is going to show favortism to Windows. This site is for WINDOWS enthusiasts after all, not Apple fanboys such as yourself. Go back to the Apple forum you came from and post with the other emo kids ;)

We are Windows enthusiasts, You are fanboys.
We make reasoned arguments, You rant.
Microsoft are fluffy little bunnies, the EU and Apple kill puppies (for fun!)
Steve Balmer is a genius, Steve Jobs and Neelie Kroes drool.
Microsoft are making less money than before, Apple are making more.
oops I obviously got that last part wrong...;-)

"We are Windows enthusiasts, You are fanboys"
Would that also apply to Leo Laporte, Scot Finnie, Tim O'Reilly, David Pogue, Preston Gralla and many more … dare I include the great Steve Gibson who elegantly examines windows code on a fundamental level?
It is you and MikeG who are religious zealots incapable of unbiased and objective reasoning. Yet, you project your deficiencies on others. It is a fact NTFS is an inferior filing system. Windows Journaling and indexing is a bad joke. Windows Paging system is equally poorly constructed. I have read ALL written work from Mark Russinovich – sadly this once uber computer scientist has sold himself short within MS.
Need I mention two microsofties (Leo Notenboom and Bob Rankin) speak glowing of Linux.
Once you try Macs you never go back !!!

Opera will be on the ballot screen, I'm sure.
My only question is who they'll blame when STILL no one uses their crappy browser. (Yes, I've tried it and yes, it is a piece of poop).
Also, Balthazar9, please familiarise yourself with the meaning of the word "uber" before throwing it around like it was "literally" or "ironic".